Ribbon-reversing mechanism for writing-machines or the like.



N 743,162. PATENTEDNOV. 3, 1903'.-

- 0. F. HOPKINS. RIBBON REVERSING MECHANISM FOR. WRITING MACHINES OR THE LIKE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 11, 1903.

N0 MODEL. 3 SHEBTS-SHEET l.

INVENTOR M Y ATTORNEY m: nonms PETERS on. Pncruumm wAsmmom-D, c.

PATENTED NOV. 3, 1903.

C. F. HOPKINS. RIBBON REVERSING MECHANISM FOR WRITING MACHINES OR, THE LIKE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 11, 1903.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

N0 MODEL.

IIINVENTOR WITNESSES ATTORNEY TH: mama warms c0.. wc'ro-Lrma, WASHINGTON. 0. c.

PATENTED Nov; 3; 1903.

C. F. HOPKINS. RIBBON REVERSING MECHANISM FOR WRITING MACHINES OR THE LIKE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 11,1903.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

HQ MODEL.

: norms PETERS co. momma, wnsvma'ron. n, c.

UNITED STATES Patented November 3, 1903.

PATENT OFFICE.

RIBBON-REVERSING MECHANISM FOR; WRITING-MACHINES OR THE LIKE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 743,162, dated November 3, 1903.

Application filed June 11, 1903.

To o whom it may con/067%;

Be it known that I, CLARENCE F. HOPKINS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Brooklyn borough, New York city, in the county of Kings and State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Ribbon-Reversing Mechanism for Writing- Machines or the Like, of which the following is a specification.

This invention resides in novel features of construction set forth in the following specification and claims and illustrated in the an nexed drawings, in which- Figure 1 is aplan view of a reversing mechanism embodying this invention, parts of a type-writing machine or frame being also shown. Fig. 2 is a section along a: 00, Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a like section showing parts in a different position than in Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a section along y y, Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a section along .2 2, Fig. 1, showing the ribbon as being unwound from one spool and the shift about to take place for the reverse travel of the ribbon. Fig. 6 shows the shift for the reverse travel of the ribbon as having taken place. Fig. 7 shows a part of a shifter or plate. Fig. 8 shows a contact or finger. Fig. 9 shows a modification.

In the drawings are shown ribbon-spools f and f. As the ribbon 9 travels back and forth it unwinds from one and winds onto the other spool, and contrariwise, as usual with ink-ribbons in type-writers. The moving mechanism for a'spool is shown comprising ratchet h and pawl t. A shifter for the pawls is shown at a, and as such shifter or plate a is moved to one side or another the pawls are likewise shifted, so that either the pawl or driving mechanism of spool f is in engagement, while that of spool f is disengaged therefrom, or conversely. The spool from which the moving mechanism is disengaged runs free to allow the ribbon to unwind as it is taken up by the opposite or driven spool, whose actuating mechanism for the time being is in engagement or active. The pawls 11 are shown as being moved by the arm 0 of the escapement or carriagerack engaging teeth It. The pawls are mounted on swinging arms Z, which are engaged by or swing to and fro as the arm 0 of the escapement-dog moves during the writing or Serial No. 161,058. (No model.)

operation of the machine. These arms Zpass loosely through the arm '0, so as to be free to move with the shifter a, on which the arms are mounted, but without loosing engagement with the arm 0. The shifter a is moved back and forth by one or another of thelevers 1), shown in form of bell-crank levers and having fulcrums m on posts or parts of the frame. One arm of each such lever extends down or so as to engage the shifter a. In Fig. 7 an end part of a shifter or plate a is shown with a seat or recess out at a, into the top or face of the same for a lever-arm depending from a fulcrum-point m to enter thereinto-and secure a hold or connection for sliding or shifting plate a by the swing of said'arm of lever b. The other lever-arm has a spring-pressed plunger d, adapted at suitable times to make a temporary connection with a moving part or arm 0 of the machine. As one connection (1 or another of the respective lever is projected into the path' of and moved by arm 0 the shifter a is moved toward one or another of the spools to bring one pawl into action and free the other; This temporary connection 01 is moved by the tension of the ribbon against the actionof retractingspring n, Fig. 1, so as toconnect with arm 0 at a desired moment-as, for example, when the ribbon has been unwound from one spool and is to be started back to rewind thereon. The connection d is engaged by an arm of lever 0, fulcrumed at p and actuated at a certain time by a finger or contact q, Fig. 5, of the ribbon or its spool. This finger is held retracted or out of action in the limits of the spool while the ribbon is wound thereabout; but when free this finger is projected or swung out by spring 'r, so as to strike on the horizontal arm of lever 0, while the plate or hooked or connected, is actuated by the ribbon-pull, and the lever o is swung to bring connection at into the stroke of arm a. The respective lever 19 is thus actuated to move the shifter toward the empty spool, so that its pawl now engages, while the other spoolpawl has been moved clear. The lever 0 not only moves bolt cl, but also carries a lock 3 for the lever 12. This lock isshown in form of a hook, catching over the upper arm of lever 12 to lock the same; but said lever-arm edge g, to which the end of the ribbon is has a cut or releasing portion, shown as a depression at 15. When the lever moves plunger (1 to engaging position, the lock 8 is at the same time freed or carried to the cut in the lever-arm to free such lever b for the shifting swing.

In place of a finger q the ribbon could have at about each' of its end portions a hump or projection g, which strikes lever 0 to bring the temporary connection d into action, Fig.9.

A retaining-spring 2, Fig. 3, is shown for holding the shifter in various positions. By having suitable recess or V-shaped bends in the spring adapted to straddle or engage a ridge or projection on the shifter or plate a accidental shift is prevented, while the levers b are still capable of forcing the shifter one way or another.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A ribbon-reversing mechanism comprising a spool or spools, moving mechanism for the spools, a feed-dog or escapement mechanism for actuating the moving mechanism, a shifter for the moving mechanism, and a temporary connection actuated by the spools for bringing the shifter into engagement with the feed-dog or escapement.

2. A spool or spools and a moving mechanism therefor, a shifter for the moving mechanism and a feed-dog or escapement mechanism for actuating the moving mechanism and the shifter.

3. A type-writing machine having a ribbon spool or spools, a moving mechanism for the spools, a shifter for the moving mechanism,

and a plunger for bringing the shifter into,

temporary engagement with a moving part of the machine, said spools provided with springprojected fingers having an actuating connection for the plunger, said fingers being held in the spools or out of action by the ribbon about the spools.

at. A type-writing machine having a ribbon spool or spools, a moving mechanism for the spools, a shifter for the moving mechanism,

and a plunger for bringing the shifter into temporary engagement with a moving part of the machine, said spools having spring-projected fingers for the plunger, said fingers being held in the spools or out of action by the ribbon about the spools and being made to actuate the plunger by the tension of the ribbon.

5. A ribbon-reversing mechanism comprising a spool or spools, moving mechanism for the spools, a shifter for the moving mechanism, a lever for actuating the shifter, a lock and temporary connection for the lever actuated by the spools, and lever-moving mechanism made to engage said temporary connections.

6. A type-writing machine comprising an escapement, a ribbon-spool-moving mechanism, a shifter for such mechanism, and a connection actuated by the tension of the ribbon for causing the shifter to be actuated by the escapement.

7. A type-writing machine comprising a ribbon-spool-moving mechanism, a shifter for such mechanism, a lever for moving the shifter, and a lock and actuating connection for the lever, said machine having a moving part or arm for engaging the connection to move the same with the lever.

8. A type-Writing machine comprising a' ribbon-spool-moving mechanism, a shifter for such mechanism, a lever for moving the shifter, a lock and actuating connection for the lever, said lever having a cut or release portion to which the lock is moved as the connection is moved into active position, and said machine having a moving part to engage the connection when in active position.

9. A type-writing machine comprising ribbon-spool-moving pawls, a shifter for such pawls, a lever for moving the shifter, an actuating connection for the lever and an escapement-arm for moving the pawls and connection.

10. Atype-writing machine comprisingribbon-spool-moving pawls, a shifter for the pawls, a lever for moving the shifter, an actuating connection for the lover, a ribbonspool finger for setting the actuating connection in active position, and an escapementarm for moving the pawls and engaging the connection when in active position.

11. A type-writing machine comprising ribbon-spool-moving mechanism, a shifter for the mechanism, a lever for moving the shifter, an actuating connection and a lock for the lever, and a ribbon-spool finger for setting the actuating connection in active position and releasing the lock, said machine having a moving part made to actuate the spool-moving mechanism and engage the connection.

12. The combination in an automatic ribbon-feed-reversing mechanism of the ribbonspools, fingers on the spools, the ribbon in winding adapted to move the fingers to the spools or out of action and in unwinding to 'release the fingers or permit them to move into action, shifter-levers having temporary connections adapted to be moved into action by the spool-fingers, a moving mechanism or pawls for the spools, a shifter for the pawls actuated by the shifter-levers, and a carriageescapement made to actuate the pawls and i engage the temporary connections for moving the shifter-levers.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

CLARENCE F. HOPKINS.

WVitnesses:

E. F. KASTENHUBER, CHAS. E. POENSGEN. 

